**UPDATED with time of game**

BEAUMONT – For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Lamar Cardinals will play in the postseason. The Cardinals (19-13) have received a bid to play in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT), tournament officials announced Sunday evening.

The Cardinals finished the regular season tied for fifth in Southland Conference play with league preseason favorite Sam Houston State, and advanced to the second round of the SLC tournament before falling to No. 3-seed Stephen F. Austin.

“The NCAA tournament will always be the primary goal for Lamar University, but we are excited to receive an invite into the CIT.” said LU head coach Tic Price. “At the beginning of the year, I don’t think anyone gave us a chance at the postseason, being picked 12^th in the conference preseason polls. The Southland tournament didn’t end the way we had hoped but I’m happy our guys get another chance to play basketball. I’m especially happy for our seniors.”

The Cardinals will meet a familiar foe in the opening round of the tournament as they will square off against instate rival, and former Southland foe, Texas State. The Bobcats were the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Conference tournament after posting a 20-13 (.606) overall record, and an 11-7 (.611) mark in league play.

The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Texas State’s Strahan Coliseum in San Marcos.

The Bobcats played a huge part in an SBC tournament that got flipped upside down. Texas State advanced to the final game against the sixth-seeded Troy Trojans before dropping a six-point decision.

LU will be one of four Southland schools represented in the tournament. Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Stephen F. Austin also received bids to the play in the CIT.

Fans can follow the CIT by logging onto CollegeInsider.com.